ABSTRACT
Tanzania, like many African nations, grapples with systemic challenges in aligning its legal frameworks with emerging digital threats. Each time children access social media or instant messaging platforms, they are susceptible to online sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as other forms of peer-to-peer violence. This has created unprecedented opportunities for children to communicate, learn, socialize and play, exposing them to new ideas and more diverse sources of information. This study examines the legal framework for protection children from online sexual exploitation and abuse in Tanzania. A researcher employed Qualitative Legal Approach grounded in doctrinal, comperative and empirical research methods, the study assesss the sufficient of Tanznia’s domestic law and Institutional enforcement mechanism in protecting child from sexual exploitation and abuse in Tanzania. The findings reveal persistent gaps, including unclear statutory definitions and legal framework is still not entirely sufficient in addressing all types of OCSEA, especially emerging forms like online grooming, live-streaming of abuse in real-time, sexual extortion, and non-contact online coercion. There are also major gaps in implementation, capacity, and regulation. In light of these shortcomings in the legal system for protecting children online. The study concludes that Tanzania should strengthen its legal framework by amending the Child Act and Cybercrime Act; developing and adopt a national policy on online child sexual exploitation and abuse; improving the capacity of law enforcement, prosecutors, and digital forensic services to investigate online offenses; and raising awareness among children, parents, caregivers, educators, and the public about online risks, how to report abuse, and how online and offline abuse are connected.
Keyword: Online Child Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in Tanzania.